The Long Count calendar is used to measure periods of time
longer than the Calendar Round (52 years). Also, unlike the Calendar Round, it
has a specific anchor in time: 18 August 3114 BCE. This system records 5 time cycles and is much like our own system of days, months, years, centuries,
and millennia.
Play the video below. A Long Count date consists of the Calendar Round date and the Long Count date. The current baktun is first in the order, then the number of katun, tun, uinal, and k'in and the Calendar Round date follow. For example, 13 February 2000 would be 12.19.6.17.5 2 Chickchan 13 Pax. This would mean 12 cycles of 144,000 days, 19 cycles of 7,200 days, 6 cycles of 360 days, 17 cycles of 20 days, and 5 days had passed since the Last Creation or the end of the 3rd Creation (see video above), which dated 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ajaw 8 Kumk'u.
This date also marked the beginning of the Great Cycle. This cycle ended on 21 December 2012, when this beginning date repeated on 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ajaw 3 K'ank'in. There was much controversy leading up to this new baktun. Many people thought it meant the world was going to end or something significant would occur on a date such as that. Play video on the right. The end of the Great Cycle reigned in the end of the 4th Creation and simply signaled the rebirth of the Great Cycle. Therefore, it was actually a cause for celebration, like a centennial. A new Great Cycle would then begin at 14 baktun. You can find today's date in the Mayan calendar here. |
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